Pacific Avenue Repaving Underway as Atlantic City Road Improvements Continue

ATLANTIC CITY — While motorists continue waiting for construction to begin on Atlantic Avenue, Atlantic City Sixth Ward Councilman Jesse Kurtz says another major roadway is already seeing significant improvements.

During an appearance on WOND's Off The Press with Scott Cronick, Kurtz said sections of Pacific Avenue have already been repaved as utility work progresses ahead of a larger paving project scheduled for next year.

"I'm really hoping we hit the October time frame to get started on Atlantic Avenue," Kurtz said. "But Pacific Avenue is getting considerable stretches repaved."

Kurtz said residents may not realize work has already begun because the improvements are occurring in sections rather than across the entire corridor.

"There are sections that have been repaved near intersections," he said. "My understanding is it has to do with the kind of layered approach that you take to streets where different utilities need to be updated under the surface."

Among the areas already improved are locations near Stockton University, the Knife & Fork Inn and Bally's.

Kurtz said those improvements are part of the utility preparation needed before the larger paving project is completed.

"I certainly hope that they skip over it because it would be within its lifespan," he said when asked whether those newly paved sections would need to be redone next year. "Anything that gets state money attached to it, there's a minimum amount of time before they can rip it up again."

He described the early paving as a positive sign that work is moving forward.

"One way to look at it is it's ahead of schedule," Kurtz said.

Kurtz also said he is closely monitoring neighborhood streets that have been opened during water main and lead service line replacement projects.

"I'm just trying to keep an eye out and continue to ask the questions to make sure that all the streets that are disturbed, especially in my ward by the utility work for the lead lines, get repaved — ideally this year," he said.

Atlantic Avenue remains one of the city's highest-profile infrastructure projects, with officials continuing to target an October construction start following months of utility work beneath the roadway.